VIDEO: UAE drifting champion takes on Toyota 86 at Yas Marina Circuit

UAE drifting champion Ahmed Al Ameri was among the first people in the UAE to get behind the wheel of Toyota's new, highly-anticipated 86 sports car - and 7DAYS' Driven was there to film it.

Al Ameri, who was crowned King of Drift earlier this year in Abu Dhabi for the second consecutive year, took the car for a few laps on the F1 Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday as Toyota distributor Al Futtaim Motors unveiled the car to the media.

Afterwards Al Meri said: “This car gives you the feel that the focus is on the driver. When I drive it, I feel I am in control of the car and not the car is controlling me.”

The Toyota 86 is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car and marks the firm’s return to this segment after a number of years away.

Simon Frith, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Motors, stressed the importance of the 86 to Toyota and how it will help emotionally reconnect customers to their cars, and inject the sports spirit back into the brand.

He said: “Adding this new car to our line-up provides us the opportunity to expand the ranks of our customers and reaching out to a somehow forgotten target market, passionate about driving true sports cars. Toyota 86 will reignite this passion.”

He added: ” Unlike other sports car the Toyota 86 is not just designed for the rich but will be accessible by many, because what fun is a sports car if you can’t afford to buy one.”

Prices for the Toyota 86 start from Dhs95,000.

simon@7days.ae